Nasal inhaler



June 17, 1941. A. c. HOFFMAN NASAL INHALER Original Filed Aug. 6, 1957 ORNEY Reissuecl June 17, 1941 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE NASAL INHALER Allan G. Hoffman, Milldale, Conn., assignor to Scovill' Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut OriginalNo. 2,191,015, dated February 20, 1940,

Serial No. 157,710, August 6, 1937.

Application for reissue October 30, 1940, Serial No. 363,580

1 Claim.

the device is merchandised from the retail store.

A further object is to produce an inhalant container of neat appearance, simple and inexpensive construction, easily operated, and designed to be carriedin the vest pocket or in the handbag convenient for immediate use."

A still further object of 'the invention is to provide amedicament' inhaler container for holding a medicament of a volatile nature with both inlet and discharge apertures; in which such container is associated with a cover for enveloping both the inlet and discharge apertures and in which there is associated with said container and cover a single sealing means so situated relatively to said container and cover as to be engageable with a part carried for the purpose on the cover in a position to sealingly impress itself mutually with said sealing device to cause sealing of both the inlet and discharge apertures, and wherein there is provided between the container and cover mutually acting connecting means which will-not only serve to unite the cover to the container against accidental or casual displacement but also functions to move the container and cover relatively to one another in a direction to cause said part of the coverlto impress itself in said sealing means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a nasal inhaler of the character indicated in the foregoing paragraph in which an enlarged head or flange on the container extends outwardly a substantial distance from the normal diameter of the body of such container and is of a width to permit a convenient grip on the same to handle and support the container both when the cover member is thereon and when the cover member is removed and the container held in the act of use; and the invention further contemplates the use of such enlarged head or flange on the container body as a repository for a sealing gasket cooperating with an enlargement or bead portion at the open end of the cover member to effect a hermetic seal for the device, in which the screw threads cooperate to move such enlargement andgasket tightly together to prevent loss of the inhalant material through evaporation and the device from becoming offensively odorous in the pocket of the user.

The invention will be better understood from the detailed description which follows when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, showing certain preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the inhaler.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the same on a slightly enlarged scale.

Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the several parts of the inhaler as they appear before assembly.

Figure 4 is a transverse section through the device, taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2 with the cap removed.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like L numerals designate like parts throughout the sevferential wall eral views; the numeral i0 indicates a relatively longhollow container shell within which may be disposed a suitable filler ll preferably made of a rolled cotton wad or other substance of like physical absorbent characteristics (shown by dotted outline in Figure '2) adapted to be saturated with aimedicament of a volatile nature. The diameter of the filler II is shown as being somewhat less than the interior diameter of the container shell, thus providing a surrounding air passage designated by the letter X (Fig. 2) to allow for a relatively free and unobstructed air passage therethrough.

The upper end of the shell Ill is formed with a smooth conoidal shape adaptable for insertion into a persons nostril. The apex of the conoidal end I2 is formed or spun inwardly and surrounds a single discharge aperture l3, a construction presenting no sharp edges capable of inflicting injury upon the user.

'The lower end of the container shell I0 is formed outwardly with an integral supporting flange I4 terminating in an upstanding circuml5, thus providing an annular channel capacitated for receiving a suitable sealing washer or gasket I5. After the filler II is treated with the desired medicament, or in fact any inhalant substance may be loaded into the container shell Ill, a sealing cap I1 is affixed to the lower end of said container shell l0 holding the filler I! permanently there within. The sealing cap l is designed to initially telescope over the upstanding wall [5 of the flange l4 and is then permanently secured thereto by spinning over or otherwise forming inwardly the upper end |8a of the peripheral wall [8 of said cap, as shown by dotted outline in Figure 2, to provide a retention flange 18b overlying the upper edge of the flange wall l5. This retention flange IBb is extended inwardly sufliciently to embrace the outer portion of the upper surface of the washer [6 for holding it in position and leaving the greater area of the upper surface of the washer exposed for reasons to be described later.

Air is adapted to be drawn into the interior of the sealed container shell ID by means of one or more apertures l9 cut out of .the wall thereof adjacent the lower end of said container just above the upper surface of the sealing washer Hi.

In order to produce an effective sealing means for the inhaler container I when not in use, a long cylindrical hollow cover 20 is designed to telescope over substantially the entire length of said shell and then be detachably secured thereto as by a threading operation. The construction for effecting this telescoping and threading connection between parts I 0 and 2ll.is effected by producing an expanded rolled thread 2! on the shell I0 adjacent its lower portion; and

the cap, in turn, is provided with an intermediate inwardly formed rolled thread 22 of corresponding pitch and location.

The lower extremity of the cover member 20 is provided with an outwardly formed partially rolled bead 23. When the cover 20 has completed its threaded operation with the shell I 0, the complementary bead 23 is adapted by nature of its shape to impress itself into the sealing washer IS without danger of cutting ormutilating the same, and thus assure a hermetical seal between the parts In and 20.

In order to facilitate the manipulation of the cover member 28!, the upper end of said cover 20 is formed with a relatively narrow expanded section 24 having an exterior knurl for gripping purposes. The outer surface of the peripheral wall of the sealing cap [6 is likewise provided with aknurl to assist in the handling of the article.

As pointed out in the objects of this specification, it is within the-purview of this invention,

if desired, to employ crystal or granular volatile substances in this inhaler, in which case the outletopening l3 in the end of the container shell l0 willbe closed and provided with a number of smaller openings, and also the intake openings the nostrils and inhaling. This causes a flow of air to enter the inlet ports I9, pass through the annular space X surrounding the filler II or through the interstices of granular and crystal substances when the latter is used, and become saturated or charged with the fumes or vapors in its passage to the outlet port l3. After'the inhaler has been used, the cap is slipped or telescoped over the shell I0 until the adjacent convolutions of the threads 2!] and 22 of shell Ill and cover 20=respectively contact each other .after which one or two turns of the cover 20 will interlock and hermetically seal the parts.

Itwill be noted that the part 23 mating with the gasket I6 is at the open end portion of the cover 20 to the end that a single sealing means formed cooperatively by said part or head 23 and the gasket I6 may suffice to seal the entire space between the cover and container, sealing both the inlet apertures l9 and discharge aperture l3 and also sealing the space in and about the threads 22.

The threads 22 perform the double function of so associating the container and cover 20 that the same may not be relativelydisplaced in an axial direction accidentally or casually, and in the second place by rotating one member relatively to the other the threads 22 develop a strong wedging action in moving the cover 20 and its part 23 .relatively to the container l0 so as :to forcibly impress the sealing part 23 against its sealing mate I6.

Thepart 23 engages the inner circular portion of the gasket 16 within the confines of the upper end 18a ,of the cap II. The gasket I6 also cooperates with this overturned end I8a to seal the space between the walls I5 and I8 and the flange l4 and bottom of thecap 11 whereby the volatile contents of the container ljlmaynot leak away through this outlet.

It will be appreciated that the improved construction affords anenlargedhead or base flange upon the lower part of the container which subserves a dual function; .flrst, by its very diametrical enlargement, as well as by its axial depth, to offer facilities in the manipulation of ,the inhaler, andin thesecond place providing a suitable seat for a washer or gasket presented outwardly of the container and in a position ,relatively to thecove r member to receive forcibly thereagainst the enlarged flange or other part 23 at the lower end of the cover by which a seal for the entire interior device is secured. The enlarged'heador flange is constructed with a channel Whichis substantially U-shapedincross Section for thebetter reception and retention of the washer or gasket. Thisenlarged operating head is locatedat aconvenient position, namely at the lower part of the container and removed from .thev inhalant opening l3, to create convenience in the manipulation and use of the device and to facilitate handling this .enlarged part may be formed with aknurled surface I].

It will be apparent that while there are employed certain details of construction for the purpose ofadequately disclosing the invention,

- various changes or modifications of the construction herein shown and described, may be made within the scope of the appended claim without departing from .the spirit of this invention or sacrificing its. advantages.

What is claimed is:

In an inhalantdevice, a, container shell having one .end formed with a tapering nozzle portion and the oppositeend open for receiving an inhalant material therein, the apex of said nozzle end having a discharge aperture, a flange extendingoutwardly from the open end of said shell and having-an upstanding .peripheral wall defining an annular channel, a sealing gasket disposed within said. channel, a closure cap covering the open end of said container shell and having a part overlyingthe upper edge of said peripheral wall and extending inwardly of said peripheralwall to embrace a portion of said gasket to retain the latter in place, said shell having ingress means adjacentlsaid washer, and a cover means having detachable interlocking engagementwith the intermediate portion of said shell and engaging said gasketifor hermetically sealing said device.

ALLAN C. HOFFMAN. 

